I have driven the Camry 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004(both an auto and a manual model). The last one was an automatic and all were brilliant vehicles. I must confess, all were Made In Australia, I drove them abroad, not in India. I will be focussing on the 2004 auto model in this review.
Steering
Smooth is the word, not too tight, not too lose either. Just Perfect!
Braking (without ABS)
Smooth, efficient, effective!
Engine
Producing 160+ horsepower, more than sufficient for any drive. And still maintains a good fuel efficiency.
Acceleration
The accelerator pedal is very sensitive to driver input, almost feels like a manual. The other auto box vehicles I have driven include the Toyota Prado 2000, Nissan Patrol 2003, BMW 530i 2006, Cheverolet Lumina 2005. None of these were as sensitive as that of the Camry’s and I prefer the feel in the Camry. Though, it does show some reluctance to shift down, when you kick back the pedal.
Visibility
For a car of this size it is pretty good. But there are plenty of blind spots to take care of, like the C pillar and even behind the rear fender while viewing through the side view mirror, but all this is a common problem with most cars today. Again rear view is a problem while parking. So parking sensors are a must on these cars, unless you are professional with many years of experience behind the wheel;)
Seating Comfort
They are comfortable, though the base model comes with no electric seats or lumbar support. Nothing to complain about. The rear seats feel more softer than the front seats. Seats 3 adults at the rear with sufficient comfort better than the previous generation Camry.
Suspension
The one I drove felt, rather soft, unlike the one my cousin has. Either his is damaged or mine has been retuned from the default stock.
The car clings to the road well, even at 160kmph, but won’t give you the solid feel of an American or European Competition. Anyway, 120kmph is the speed limit, so it does fine.
This model has not Vehicle Stability Control, so body roll is aparent, but that is not much of an issue on a 3 lane highway, with overtaking being very rare. Body roll is mostly felt while negotiating the ramps for highway interchange.
*Build Quality
*Since this one was made in Australia, there were some issues in general, not my car in particular. For instance, all vehicles that were imported(after a few months after initial import), had there radiator fans replaced on arrival at the dealer, because they had found it would crack after a while of usage. Otherwise, dashboard quality, seat trim, engine, body are all fine. Though I did have some issues with the 1998 model.
Boot Space
It is quite big considering most of the competition, plus the ability to fold the rears seats helps a lot with those big luggage.
Exterior Look
I am more a fan of the previous generation Camry(was not sold in India). I feel the 2004 model looks more bulky than the sleek, compact design of the previous generation. But again, opinions vary from person to person! The latest generation Camry 2006/2007(depends on the country) is a mix of both, but somehow it does not have the road presence of the 2004 model.
Overall
Can’t disagree with Toyota, when they say, "Camry, Touch the Perfection"!